Photographic film container



June 15, 1943. I A, J, BRAUN 2,321,794

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM CONTAINER Filed March 21, 1942 I t I 1 I I 1 I I I I I fizvenfor Agglst Jffimwa Patented June 15, 1943 PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM CONTAINER August J. Braun, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Mostow 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,863

Claims.

' This invention relates to containers or boxes,

and more particularly to a container employed in the storing and carrying of rolls of photographic film.

It is well known that rolls of photographic film are made up in various sizes. The same are generally mounted on a spool or reel and are disposed in a relatively flat circular can, the size of which depends, of course, upon the length of film disposed therein. These cans are adapted to be carried in a container or box in which the cans are mounted so as to stand up on edge with the cans supported against vibration or movement while in the container. The lateral movement of these cans is prevented by providing suitable guides within thecontainer between which each can is received, while transverse movement is prevented by having portions of the can engage with the front and rear walls of the container. Thus it was necessary to have the container made of such a size so as to have the front and rear walls thereof engaged by the can mounted therein with the result that one container was made to carry only one size of roll.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a container of the character described having means associated therewith adjustably mounted within the container, whereby the same container may carry a plurality of sizes of film rolls, each of said sizes elfectively held against movement or vibration in the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container of the character described having novel and improved means associated therewith for supporting against either lateral or transverse movement film rolls disposed therein, said means being movable to either of two positions whereby film rolls of varying sizes may be supported therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple in construction, assembly, and operation. which may be produced along lines convenient for low cost manufacture, and which will be highly elficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing andv other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certa n novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing. and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention..

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment" thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following descr'ip' tion, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container or box for carrying rolls of photographic film embodying my new invention, parts being broken away tomore clearly illustrate the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container when the same is in a closed position.

Photographic film, as usually handled by amateur motion picture operators, is disposed in round cans which are relatively fiat, the size of such cans depending upon the length of film mounted on the reel or spool disposed therein. In practice, these cans are made to hold a spool upon which is mounted say 200 feet, 360 feet, or 400 feet of film, thesize of the cans varying, of course, with the length of the film disposed therein. These cans are adapted to be disposed in a box or container within which they may be stored or carried from place to place. The cans are ar-' ranged on edge and must be held against both lateral and transverse movement when disposed in the container. Heretofore it was necessary to have a difierent'size container for carrying eachdifferent size of film can.

My present invention makes it possible'to utilize one container for carrying a plurality of different sizes of film roll cans.

Referring to thedrawing in more detail, by characters of reference, the numeral l0 designates generally a container or boxmade of any suitablematerial, such as metal, wood, or some plastic composition, said. container comprising the base II and the cover member I2 suitably hinged thereto, as shown at l3. The meeting edges of the base and cover member are arranged on an incline, as shown in the drawing, to facilitate the easy removal of the cans holding the film rolls from the container.

As it is necessaryto prevent movement of the cans disposed within the container, there is provided Within the base I I a member I4 rigidly secured thereto, said member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs I5 struck up from the body portion thereof, any pair of said lugs being adapted to receive therebetween the edge of a can holding a photographic film roll. A similar member I6 is secured to the rear wall of the base I I, said member likewise being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced upstanding lug or flanges II, struck up from the body thereof, said lugs I! being in alignment with corresponding lugs I5 so as to receive therebetween the edges of the can holding the photographic film.

The construction. so far described will permit the disposition within the container of a can of photographic film designated by the reference character I8, said can being stood on edge. as shown in Fig. 1, and having portions thereof engage the upper edge of the forward wall of the base II and the rear wall of the base. When in this position the can l8 will be held against lateral movement by the lugs I 5 and I1, and against transverse movement by its engagement with the front and rear walls of the base II, as shown more clearly in the drawing. In this manner the cans of film I8 will be securely held within the container against vibration and movement. However, should a can of smaller size or smaller diameter, as shown at I8, be disposed within the container, the same would be permitted to move transversely and therefore could not be ef fectively held in position within the container.

In order to permit the same container Ill to safely and effectively carry and hold film cans of more than one size. I have provided members I9, of substantially V-shaped formation in cross section and comprising the sides 20 and 2|. There may be a plurality of said members I9 mounted along the base or bottom wall of the base II spaced inwardly of the forward wall of said base I I, as shown in the drawing.

In the embodiment illustrated, there are shown two such members I9 hingedly secured by means of the hinges 22 to said bottom wall of the base II. The hinge connection of the member I9 to the bottom wall is such as to permit the members to be swung in either one of two positions. When in one position. as illustrated at the left hand side of Fig. 1, the member I9 will have its side 20 disposed against the bottom wall of the base II, in which position it will not interfere with the disposition of a can of the size shown at I8 within the container. When in the other position, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1, the member I9 will be swung away from the forward wall of the base II and will assume a substantially upstanding position with the side wall 2I thereof being adapted to engage a portion of the can I8 to hold the same against transverse movement. It will be obvious that when in this position the can I8 will be held against lateral movement by means of the lugs I5 and I! and against transverse movement by reason of its engagement with the side 2! of the member I9.

It will thus be apparent that by merely swinging the members I9 from one position to another the container I0 may be utilized for holding in one portion thereof a plurality of cans of films of one size and in another portion thereof a plurality of cans of a different size. The number of such members I9 mounted within the container I0 may vary depending upon the number of sizes of cans of film it is desired to carry or store within the container.

A suitable locking means of usual and well known construction, generally designated by the reference character 23, may be provided in the front of the container for fastening the cover I2 to the base II thereof.

It will be noted that the said adjustable members I9 may be built into the containers when the same are made up or said members may be readily mounted within containers already in use. Also, the said members I9 may be made of various sizes so that one of said members may support a plurality of cans of film, whereas the other of said members may support only one can.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. A container for carrying cans of photographic film comprising a base and a cover therefor, means associated with said container for holding said cans of film in an upstanding position against lateral movement when disposed Within said container, and adjustable means provided within said container adapted for swinging movement into either of two positions, whereby 'when in one of said positions said last mentioned means will permit the support of a can of one diameter against transverse movement and when in the other position will support a can of smaller diameter against vibration or movement while in the container.

2. A container for cans of photographic film comprising a base having a bottom wall and acover therefor. the base having means associated with. the bottom wall thereof to form guides or supports for holding a circular can in an upstanding position, and adjustable means mounted on said bottom wall adapted for swinging movement into either of two positions, whereby when in one of said positions said adjustable mean will permit the support of a can of one diameter against transverse movement and when in the other position will support a can of smaller diameter against vibration or movement whilein' the container.

3. A container for holding cans of photographic film comprising a base having front and rear walls and a bottom wall and a cover therefor, the base having means provided therein for supporting a plurality of cans of film while standing on edge and to hold the same against lateral movement within the container, said cans being held against transverse movement within the container by portions thereof contacting the front and rear walls of said base, and mean per-- mitting the disposition of cans of smaller diameter within said container and for preventing transverse movement of said smaller cans, said last mentioned means comprising hingedly mounted members secured to a wall of th base and being adapted to be swung to either of two positions, whereby when in one position the same will not interfere with the disposition of the cans .of larger diameter within the container, and

When in the other position the same will contact a portion of the cans of smaller diameter to hold the same against transverse movement within the container.

4. A container comprising a base having front and rear wall and a cover therefor, the base having means associated therewith for supporting a circular can in an upstanding position and holding the same against lateral movement, transverse movement of said can being prevented by engagement of portions of said can with the front and rear walls of said base, and means for preventing transverse movement of cans of maller diameter, said means comprising a member of substantially v-shaped cross section hingedly mounted inwardly of the front wall of said base and along the bottom wall thereof, whereby said member when swung to operative position will present an upstanding barrier between which and the rear wall of the base a can of smaller diameter will be held against transverse movement within the container.

5. A container comprising a base having front and rear wall and a bottom wall and a cover therefor, the base having means associated therewith for supporting a circular can in an upstanding position and holding the same against lateral movement, transverse movement of said cans being prevented by engagement of portions of said cans with the front and rear walls of said base, and means for preventing transverse movement of cans of smaller diameter, said means comprising a member of substantially V-shaped cross section hingedly mounted inwardly of the front wall of said base and along the bottom wall thereof, whereby said member when swung to operative position will present an upstanding barrier between which and the rear wall of the base a can of smaller diameter will be held against transverse movement within the container, and said last mentioned member, when swung into the other position, will not interfere with the disposition within the container of cans of larger diameter normally held against transverse movement by engagement of portions thereof with the front and rear walls of the container.

AUGUST J. BRAUN. 

